How to download a song for a ringtone on Android

Want to stand out from the rest of the crowd? Custom ringtones are the way to go, and here we will show how to make a ringtone for Android way to personalize your Android smartphone. You can use your favorite songs as ringtones and assign each one to specific friends, family members or even your boss. Read on below to know how you can turn a song into a ringtone for Android via a step-by-step tutorial.

Android has a way to create custom ringtones baked right into its operating system. Since Android 9.0 Pie is possible to download anything special to get this to work. All you need is a song or audio file on your device. For this tutorial, we use the Google Pixel 5 running on Android 12.

Once you have your file stored on your phone, head over to Settings and then Sound & vibration. Tap Phone ringtone > My Sounds and then at the bottom right of the screen click on the + icon to add a new ringtone to your list of default options.

You can choose from songs, artists, albums, genres or select a track from a folder. By searching through the files tab, you can even browse on Cloud storage for audio files. Once you have added a ringtone, it will appear in your list of tones. Simply select it and your new ringtone will be already set. The example pictured above is an MP3 track called Prince Johnny, by St. Vincent.

Create custom ringtones using a third-party app

There are several apps on the Play Store which can do this, but for this tutorial, we'll be using an open-source app known as MP3 Cutter & Ringtone Maker. One thing good about this app is it does not blast you with ads right from the beginning, but only when you want to access select features. Removing the ads and unlocking all of its premium features (all songs, etc.) will cost a one-time fee of US$3.99.

In-app purchases are required to access additional features, but the bare basics are good enough for the average Android user who wants nothing more than cut a select segment from their favorite MP3 track. This app allows you to use any sound or song you have on your phone as a ringtone. Once you have created your ringtone, you can then set it as your default sound or assign it to a specific contact. In addition to ringtones, the app can also create custom alarms and notification sounds.

• Download MP3 Cutter & Ringtone Maker from the Google Play Store

Getting started

First things first, you will need to install the free MP3 Cutter & Ringtone Maker app from the Google Play Store. To turn a song into a ringtone, you'll also have to have the audio files or music you wish to use on your smartphone's internal storage or its microSD card. MP3 Cutter & Ringtone Maker is compatible with MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG and FLAC audio files, among others.

1. Launch the MP3 Cutter & Ringtone Maker app on your Android phone.
2. Once the app launches, you'll see a list of options from trending TikTok tunes to Hindi Bollywood - whatever floats your boat! However, if you have an audio track on your smartphone that you would like to edit, you can select MP3 Cutter. 
3. Select the song you would like to use as a ringtone from the list.
4. Once you have selected a song, its waveform will open up in the editor. Use the two sliders above and below the graph to choose a start and end point for your ringtone.
5. Finally, save the sound clip by selecting Save. You can rename it if you want to, and specify which type of alert you want to use it for (the default option is ringtone).

All the ringtones that you create will be stored in the Output Folder that can be accessed via the app’s main overview. 

What song will you use as your ringtone? Let us know in the comments.

This article has been completely revised and new steps included in the tutorial. Comments from before the republishing date have been kept.

I sometimes want to use my own song as a ringtone or notification alert. It wasn’t always the case, but doing this has become an effortless feat with Android. This guide will show you how to set an MP3 file as a custom ringtone or notification sound. Let’s get right to it.

Also: The best customization apps for Android

Note: All steps in this tutorial were put together using a Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 13 and a custom PC with Windows 11. Keep in mind steps might differ depending on your hardware and software version.

Requirements

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

You don’t need much to set an MP3 file as a ringtone or notification sound. Technically, the only requirements are an Android phone and an MP3 file. You might need an internet connection, depending on whether you have the MP3 stored locally or not. You might also need a PC and extra software for trimming the audio file.

Requirements:

• Android phone
• MP3 file
• Internet (if you need to download the MP3)
• A PC (if you need to trim the MP3 file)

Trimming the MP3 file

You don’t want the whole song to be played as a ringtone. Well, you might, and you can skip this step if you do. That won’t always be the case, though. You’ll often want to hear only a specific part of a song or MP3 audio. You can use various software to trim your audio files, such as Adobe Audition, Reaper, and Pro Tools. We’ll only touch on a couple of options to simplify things, though; one for PC and one for Android.

How to trim an MP3 file with Audacity:

1. Download, install, and launch Audacity. It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
2. Go to File > Import > Audio.
3. Select the MP3 you want to find.
4. Use the selection tool and cursor to highlight the audio part you want to keep as your ringtone.
5. Once a section has been selected, you can press the space bar to play only that part and ensure you like it.
6. Now click Edit > Remove Special > Trim Audio.
7. Only the section you selected will remain.
8. Drag your audio to the beginning of the timeline.
9. I would also advise using the Fade In and Fade Out in the beginning and end. These options can be accessed by going to the Effect menu.
10. Now go to File > Export and select MP3.
11. Move the file to your smartphone.

How to trim an MP3 file with Music Editor:

1. Download and install Music Editor from the Google Play Store.
2. Move the MP3 file to your Music folder using a file manager.
3. Launch Music Editor.
4. Tap on the Trim Audio option.
5. Select the song you want to turn into a phone ringtone.
6. Drag the sliders to select the part of the song you want to keep as a ringtone. The green one is the beginning, and the red one is the end.
7. You can use the media controls at the bottom to get a preview.
8. Hit the floppy disk icon on the top-right.
9. Select a name for the new file.
10. Hit OK.

Also read: How to record calls on Android phones

How to set an MP3 file as a ringtone

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Now that your MP3 song is trimmed correctly, it’s time to prepare it for prime time.

How to set an MP3 as a ringtone on Android:

1. Download or transfer the song you want to set as your ringtone to your phone. This can be done through USB, direct download, or any cloud storage solution of your preference. If you use a service like Google Play Music, download the mp3 file to your device.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Go to Sound & vibration.
4. Hit Phone ringtone.
5. Go to My Sounds.
6. If your ringtone doesn’t show up, hit the + button in the bottom-right corner.
7. Find the song and select it.
8. Hit Save.

How to set an MP3 file as a notification sound

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Notification sounds blast off more commonly than ringtones, so giving them your personal touch is essential. The process is very similar, but here’s a step-by-step guide to make things easier.

Using an MP3 file as a notification sound:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
2. Select Sound & vibration.
3. Hit Default notification sound.
4. Go to My Sounds.
5. If your ringtone doesn’t show up, hit the + button in the bottom-right corner.
6. Find the song and select it.
7. Hit Save.

Setting MP3 ringtones for specific contacts

David Imel / Android Authority

Setting a personalized ringtone for each contact is also possible in the stock Contacts app:

1. Launch the Contacts app and open a contact’s info page.
2. Hit the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner.
3. Tap on Set Ringtone.
4. Select the ringtone you want to use for that contact.
5. Hit Save.

Next: 5 best Android apps for notification tones and ringtones

FAQs

What other file formats can I use to set a ringtone?

MP3 is the most commonly used format for audio, songs, and ringtones, but it’s not the only one. Android all supports M4A, WAV, and OGG.

Can I buy ringtones for Android?

There are plenty of apps and websites for buying ringtones. Sadly, there is no official store for Android users to get them. It would be nice if we could simply pay for Android ringtones from the Google Play Store, just like Apple users can buy them from iTunes. Maybe sometime in the future.

Is it legal to make my own ringtones?

Generally speaking, in the USA, it is. You must use legally purchased songs, and you can’t sell or distribute the ringtones. Make sure you do your research, though, as we’re not legal counselors or experts. Also, laws can change from place to place, so look into your local laws.